Easing the Way For Senior Citizens

by
Maryann Miller

Ask anyone who is in their "golden years" what they dread most, and the answer will invariably be "the loss of independence."

For some people, the aging process brings health-related issues that limit mobility, which then means that perhaps they can no longer live independently. There are usually only three choices for a person in those circumstances. Move in with a relative. Go to a nursing home. Or move into an assisted living facility. For people living in rural areas, the choices often don't include that third option. There are not a lot of small towns that have assisted living facilities.

Winnsboro is lucky. Autumn Wind Assisted Living opened this spring and offers elegant living for area residents. Walking into the activity center is like walking into the lobby of a luxury hotel. Comfortable furniture is tastefully arranged. Beautiful art work in the form of paintings, pottery, and sculptures grace tables and mantles and walls.

In the dining room there is a grand piano in one corner and pieces of art nestled in other corners. Tables are set with linens, fine china and silverware, and the meals are what one resident referred to as "gourmet."

Katie Sinclair was waiting for a ride to Sulphur Springs the day I visited. She had been living in the Winnsboro facility for a few weeks but "got awful homesick for Sulphur Springs.

"I'm going to move back there," she said, referring to Hopkins House in Sulphur Springs. "Don't get me wrong. I like it here. It is just beautiful and the people are very nice. But my friends and family are in Sulphur Springs and I just want to go back."

Katie, who said she will be 95 years old in October, "If I make it that long," was born in the Greenview community just south of Sulphur Springs and her family roots are deep. Her devotion to family is also deep and she has written a book to share her life and experience with family members. She gifted me with a copy of Katie's Stories, and it was interesting to read her accounting of Life Before, During and After the Depression and World War II. The memories of those times are precious, and her family is lucky to have her accounting to read over and over again.

Making sure that residents are comfortable and happy in the facility is a major priority with the owners and the staff. Jimmy Masters and Chad Cable, two of the owners with Phil Morgan, are all from Sulphur Springs. "We worked for a group that built assisted living facilities across the state," Chad said. "Then we decided to start our own business. We asked those guys to mentor us and they finally said, 'If you boys will quit whining and pestering us, we'll help.'" (L-R: Chad Cable & Jimmy Masters)

Chad said it was a great benefit to be mentored by people who knew what they were doing. It was also a great boon when they brought Missy Dyer on board as the facility Administrator and a partner. "They recruited me, " Missy said. "I was running an assisted living facility in Pittsburg at the time, but I have been in long-term care for 20 years."

Assisted living facilities are regulated by the same agency that regulates nursing homes, so part of Missy's responsibilities is making sure they meet those standards. Autumn Wind in Winnsboro has 42 rooms - 30 currently occupied - and a staff of 23, including an R. N., several nursing assistants, kitchen, cleaning and maintenance staff.

Chad said they built the facility in Winnsboro because they saw a real need for a place that "bridges the gap between home and a nursing home.

"We wanted people to have a really nice place to make that transition," he continued. "And we've always liked Winnsboro, even though we are from the big city of Sulphur Springs."

He punctuated that with a laugh, then turned serious again. "We really want people to see this as home," he said. "We want everybody to be happy. This is home-owned and operated. If you call for information you get to talk to someone right here. Not some off-site management firm. If residents have a problem or an issue, like Katie wanting to move, we take care of it right here, right now."

The facility offers private suites with kitchenettes, spacious bathrooms with showers and handicap equipment, 24-our assistance with emergency call system, and individual thermostats. May units also have outdoor fenced patios. There is an onsite beauty salon/barber shop, beautiful dining area, library with computers, private mail boxes, and activity center, and much more.

The goal of Autumn Winds is to "Meet each resident's individual needs while maintaining the highest level of dignity, privacy and respect."

Autumn Wind Assisted Living is located at 1004 E. COke Road in Winnsboro. For information call Missy Dyer at 903-342-3388 or 903-434-9300